Danieldobbs

okay let me first start out by thanking everyone that has helped me in the past on the rx8 club. I have a very nice mazda rx8 and the beginning problem was the throwout bearing. well to make a long story short I was told that I should just change the entire clutch set so I went with aftermarket clutchs and flywheel (from grip force) and ended up changing them twice in a little less than 2 months. needless to say you know how expensive that is well anyway I was driving down the road the next day after getting the clutchs changed for the second time and I was driving a little fast and when I went to shift to 3rd gear the pedal stuck to the floor and has not been right ever since I changed both master and slave cylinder and I tried to manually bleed the system and it still will not let my car go into any gears when it is running but when the car is turned off it will go into each and every gear I've been having so many problems with the clutches I was actually thinking about getting rid of my rx8 I really don't want to do that I would like to fix it and keep it but I don't really know how to work on them like I can American Muscle but I have to say it is by far the fastest and nicest import car I've had. any information on this would be appreciated

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Either your clutch pedal assembly broke (very common), or your aftermarket clutch burst.

Next time you replace the clutch, please just replace it with an OEM clutch kit from Mazmart or BHR. It's cheap, it works, it won't fail, and it is entirely sufficient.

Danieldobbs

Yes I was afraid someone was going to say that I kinda figured it was my clutches again but I just wanted to keep a positive mind frame ( I've already checked the clutch pedal frame it is perfect so those two stores you listed carry the OEM clutch kit? And I let a import shop do them twice do you think that I may be able to tackle the job this time? How hard is changing the clutches? And do you need any special tools to put the flywheel on?

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RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

If you already replaced the flywheel before, then as long as you haven't blued the flywheel, then there is no reason to replace the flywheel again, or even remove it. An old flywheel with significant usage might need to be resurfaced, but a new one barely used shouldn't be.

Replacing the clutch yourself is totally doable, i did it 3 times on my 8 (basically the same problem as yours, first Exedy Stage 1 clutch burst, pedal stuck to the floor, replaced it with another Stage1, problems immediately, went OEM and problems disappeared). There are DIY threads, but involve a lot of laying under the car cranking on bolts.


It's more likely that your choice of clutch is the problem, and not a shop installation problem, though it's possible. Pull your starter and look into the bellhousing through the starter hole to see if it is indeed burst. Should be shredded clutch material all over the place.

Danieldobbs

Okay I would do that and thank you for your help and the flywheel is actually the flywheel that came in the aftermarket clutch kit so I will have to change it back to factory.

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Danieldobbs

Also you had mentioned places to get OEM clutchs for the rx8. Are those the only places that carry oem? Because I know the dealer is usually going to try to over price the clutch kit

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RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

You should be able to use any flywheel with any clutch, unless the aftermarket flywheel was something really unique. Can you provide details on it?

Unless maybe you are referring to the pressure plate, instead of the flywheel. The flywheel bolts to the engine with 1 big nut, the pressure plate bolts to the flywheel and sandwiches the clutch disc against the flywheel. Nearly all clutch kits come with a friction disc, pilot bearing, release bearing, and pressure plate.

No, those are not the only places to get OEM clutches, but they are the two cheapest (BHR's is $375 including shipping, Mazmart's is $360 + shipping) and they are forum vendors that pay fees to support the site and be vendors here, so why not support them? They both give outstanding customer service on top of that.

Danieldobbs

I actually don't have any information on the aftermarket parts I would have to look up the clutch set on grip force website assuming they even sent the right parts I actually looked on mazmart.com and they have the exedy oem clutch kit. I would have to research to see if that flywheel would work with this clutch kit I would probably just buy another flywheel to be safe. How hard are the flywheels to put on?

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RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

It's a huge amount of torque on the retaining nut, any you usually need to rig up something to keep the engine from rotating, but otherwise not actually "difficult".

I just looked at the flywheels they offer on the website for the RX-8, and all of them will work with the OEM clutch without a problem. None of them are weirdly unique.

Slidin8

They are pretty easy to take off if you have an good impact wrench. No need to rig up something either as the shaft wont spin

Danieldobbs

Okay I appreciate your help I will give it a shot

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dxjp

Maybe do a little diagnostics before you tear into it. Get a light, and a inspection mirror, and see if the slave is moving at all. You will need someone to pull the pedal up and then push it back down. If the slave is moving check to make sure the throwout arm is moving as well. If neither is moving then its between the slave and the master. Your not compressing the oil in the master to the slave. I had this problem maybe three times on my FD, even after a new master the problem came back. So you might only need to replace one of those. Were the replacements OEM?. I used OEM on my FD and still had the problem.

If all these are working then you have a problem with your clutch cover.

I just installed a gripforce stage 3 in my 8. Took about 4 1/2 hrs to do by myself. My starter ring was spinning on the flywheel. It was a OEM flywheel with a greddy disc, and cover. I have a gripforce in my LS1 powered subaru with 400rwhp, its been in there 2 years now, and not one problem.

Danieldobbs

I actually checked the arm that the slave cylinder moves and it moves it perfectly I'm not sure where the throwout arm is located to check that but both my slave and master cylinder are brand new OEM parts I just put on a week ago maybe I'm just not bleeding this system correctly I don't know the dealer said when they put a master cylinder on that they vacuum bleed the system I'm just confused at this point because I only had the brand new clutch is in this car for a bout 3 days and the pedal stuck to the floor as I was getting on to the car and shifted to third and it never come back up off the floor

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RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, pull the starter and look in the hole to check the bellhousing. If your clutch burst as I expect, you will find lots of shredded clutch material. Been there with the exact same problem. I replaced the master and slave first too, and no change, before bothering to look in the bellhousing and seeing that.

Yeah, it's possible that it is a hydraulic problem, though if the clutch fork (the part the slave pushes on) moves 1-for-1 with the pedal, then it isn't a hydraulic problem.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I would check the bleed on the clutch...if you have an air bubble in there it will do that. If the fittings on the slave and master are leaking at all it will do the same thing as well.....so maybe check and see if you have brake fluid leaks around the lines and the bleed nipples

Danieldobbs

Yes my slave cylinder is pushing the clutch fork and when I hold it with my hand my uncle that is pushing the clutch pedal says it gets tight I will pull the bell housing off my starter today to see if my clutchs burst

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